For Christmas Eve, make a treat for Santa

12/3/2006

Leaving a treat out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve is a tradition for the children in many families. Sometimes it s Christmas cookies and hot chocolate.

Here are refreshing, cool ideas that will be good enough for kids to enjoy, but don t forget to leave some out for Santa.

Make a Limeade Milk Chiller. Combine 1 cup milk, 1 cup lime sherbet, and cup frozen limeade concentrate in a blender container. Cover; blend until smooth. Pour into 2 or 3 frosted glasses; garnish with lime slices.

For an Eggnog Shake, blend chilled low-fat or fat-free dairy eggnog with vanilla ice cream.

Create a Frosty Hot Chocolate made with chocolate ice cream, fat-free milk, and sugar-free or regular cocoa mix. Serve in a frosted glass topped with a few mini marshmallows.

• Click here for the Frosty 'Hot' Chocolate recipe

Gluten-free vanilla

Nielsen-Massey Vanilla has been certified by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization.

Cooking demonstrations

In-store cooking demonstrations will be held at Essential Gourmet, 5650 Mayberry Square in Sylvania.

Chef Jeff McKahan will demonstrate different ways to prepare salmon at 1 p.m. Dec. 9, and how to brine pork at 1 p.m. Dec. 16. To sign up for the free class, call 419-885-7600.

Kathie Smith is The Blade s food editor.